Container for liquids



April 21, 1964 J- HALPERN CQNTAINER FOR LIQUIDS Filed March 4, 1963 FIG.5

INVENTOR. Joel Holpern FIG.4

ATTOBNEY.

United States Patent 3,129,849 CGNTAINER FUR LIQUIDS Joel Haipern, 2? Elrnwood Court, Plainview, N.Y. Filed Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,611 9 Claims. (Cl. 220-42) The present invention relates to containers for liquids, and more particularly to an improved upper closurereceiving portion therefor and its mating closure or cover. The invention is especially valuable when used in the production of containers for liquids, such as paint, which are to be removed therefrom by intermittent pouring or by means of a brush.

It is Well known to provide containers of the character described with an annularly grooved or U-shaped channel in the upper portion of the container body for receiving a cooperating annular head on the lid or cover. The top portion of the container having the annular groove may either be formed separately and then joined to the body of the container in known manner, e.g. by means of a double seam or it may be formed integral with the container body. A preferred type of top portion is widely known as the friction top in which the annular head of the cover mates with the annular groove in a pressfit.

When using containers heretofore known, however, the annular groove or channel becomes undesirably filled with the liquid to a greater or lesser extent. If the liquid in the container has not been completely used the consumer frequently desires to reseal the container and store it for future use. However, this presented certain difficulties due to the annular groove or channel having become partially or completely filled with the liquid during use. This condition prevented the cover or lid from being pressed into effective sealing relationship with the top portion of the container and often resulted in a squirting of part of the liquid from the groove onto the consumer or upon carpeting, walls or the like during the rescaling step. Accumulation of liquid in the annular groove during use, also generally resulted in dripping over the outer surface of the container, thereby making continued use of the container a nuisance.

Numerous attempts were made to overcome the afore- I said difiiculties, such as the provision of drainback holes in the bottom of the annular groove as described in United States Letters Patent 2,313,069 or the provision of fluid displacement passageways whereby accumulated fluid in the annular groove was forced back into the container as the cover was replaced and pressed into sealing relationship. United States Letters Patent 2,606,685 fully describes this latter construction. However none of these prior expedients appear to have satisfactorily overcome the problem.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved container for liquids having a novel arrangement for the top closure-receiving portion whereby liquids entering the annular groove or U-channel fiow freely back into the container.

Another object of the invention is an improved container for liquids having a novel arrangement for the top closure-receiving portion whereby liquids entering the annular groove or U-channel flow freely back into the container and which receives the cover in either a force fit, a screwed fit or a combination of both.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a container for liquids having the inside surface of the top portion thereof provided with an upwardly facing helical open-ended channel adapted to receive in sealing relationship therewith a mating bead projection on the container cover.

The present invention also provides a container for liquids, comprising a generally cylindrical body having a bottom closure at one end and provided in the inside of the other end with an upwardly facing open-ended helical channel adapted to receive by a press-fit and in sealing relationship therewith an annular mating bead projection on the container cover, the said channel being formed by an outer sidwall in close proximity with the inner circumferential surface of the container body and an inner sidewall spaced therefrom, the depth of said outer sidewall increasing as the helix proceeds about the circumferential inner face of the container body, and the said inner sidewall being of substantially the same depth throughout.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood it will now be described, by Way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a container with the cover removed;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the container of FIGURE 1 with the cover removed;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the container taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view from the bottom of the cover.

This invention will now be described with reference to a friction top container. However in accordance with one embodiment the cover can be sealed in place by simply screwing it into the annular channel in the top of the container.

As stated above, the invention is being described as embodied in a friction top container. Containers of this type are characterized by an annular head in the cover and an annular channel in the top portion of the container body which is adapted to receive the bead in a press-fit. In this manner the cover may be sealed to the container body. However the invention, in one embodiment, comprises a container in which the cover may be screwed on to also provide an effective seal. Alternatively the head on the cover and the channel in the top portion of the container body may be so formed that a combination friction top and screw top container results.

In FIGURE 1 of the drawings 1 designates a generally cylindrical container body which is provided with bottom end closure 3. The bottom closure may be made integral with the cylindrical body or may be constructed separately and then seamed to the body or otherwise joined thereto as 'is well known.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 top portion 9 is shown secured to the sidewall 13 of the container body by a single seam 4. However, as is well known in the art the top portion may be secured to the body with a double seam or by other known expedients. The top portion is provided with an open-ended helical groove or channel 5 which is formed by outer sidewall 6 and inner sidewall 7. The depth of the channel with respect to inner sidewall 7 is preferably constant as it circles the inside of the container and is sufliciently wide to provide for adequate drainback into the container of the liquid which enters same. Likewise, the pitch of the helix is selected in accordance with the viscosity of the liquid to be stored so that free flow of the liquid from the higher elevations of the channel back into the container will take place. The cross-sectional proportions of the channel are also selected to provide the desired press-fit with the mating bead projection on the cover to be hereinafter described. The inner sidewall of the top portion is desirably provided with Patented Apr. 21, 1964 3 a rounded lip or curl 8 which defines the mouth of the container and also serves as a brush wiper.

The entire top portion 9 may, if desired, be formed of prestressed metal or of plastic so that it can be snapped in place on the upper end of the body. When constructed in this manner it can also be removed for cleaning of the channel whenever this is considered to be necessary.

By refer-ring to FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawings it will be seen that inner sidewall 7 is preferably constructed of uniform depth whereas outer sidewall 6 increases in depth as the helix proceeds about the circumferential inher face of the container in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 4. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the helix can be formed such that outer sidewall increases in depth as the helix proceeds about the circumferential inner face of the container in a clockwise direction. The channel is preferably formed so that it terminates, at its lowest elevation, directly beneath the point at which it begins although more, or less, than a single turn helix can be formed if so desired. This facilitates manufacture of the top portion of the container and also permits of ease in registering the cover on the container body for sealing.

FIGURE 5 of the drawings illustrates the cover. As shown it is of the lid type. However it is entirely within the scope of the invention to provide a plug-type cover which seats within the periphery of the container body. The cover depicted comprises a flat top 2 and an annular bead projection 12 which as shown in the accompanying drawing is of increasing depth. The annular bead is constructed for insertion in the channel 5 of the container body preferably by a press-fit. When in sealing relation with the container body outer sidewall .11 of the bead presses resiliently against outer sidewall 6 of the body whereas inner sidewall 10 of the bead presses resiliently against inner sidewall '7 of the container body.

When the manufacturer intends the cover to be screwed on to the container body the bead projection 12 is preferably flared at the bottom as would then be the base of channel 5. By this construction the cover will be held in place on the container body without the need to provide the press-fit between the sidewalls of the annular bead and the sidewalls of the channel. However, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art some slight degree of friction between the contiguous sidewalls to provide a combination press-fit and screw seal is highly desirable.

Although the foregoing specification describes the invention in specific detail it is understood that various depantures in shape, size and selection of materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A container for liquids comprising a generally cylindrical body having a bottom closure at one end and having the inside surface of the other end provided throughout substantially its entire circumferential extent with an upwardly facing and helically extending open-ended chan nel, said channel being adapted to receive in sealing relationship therewith a mating bead projection on the container cover.

2. A container for liquids, comprising a generally cylindrical body having a bottom closure at one end and provided with at least a single-turn helical upwardly facing open-ended channel on the inside surface of the other end about substantially the entire circumferential extent thereof adapted to receive in press-fit sealing relationship therewith an annular mating bead projection on the container cover.

3. A container for liquids, comprising a generally cylindrical body having a bottom closure at one end and provided in the inside of the other end with an upwardly facing open-ended helical channel adapted to receive by a press-fit and in sealing relationship therewith an annular mating bead projection on the container cover, the said channel being generally U-shaped and formed by an outer sidewall in close proximity with the inner circumferential surface of the container body and an inner sidewall spaced therefrom, the depth of said outer sidewall increasing as the helix proceeds about the circumferential inner face of the container body, and the said inner sidewall being of substantially the same depth throughout.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the said channel terminates directly beneath the point at which it begins to thereby form a single turn helix.

5. A container for liquids, comprising a generally cylindrical body having a bottom closure at one end and provided in the inside of the other end with an upwardly facing open-ended helical channel adapted to receive in sealing relationship therewith an annular mating bead projection on the container cover, the said channel being generally U-shaped and formed by an outer sidewall in close proximity with the inner circumferential surface of the container body and an inner sidewall spaced therefrom, the depth of said outer sidewall increasing as the helix proceeds about the circumferential inner face of the container body, the said inner sidewall being of substantially the same depth throughout, the base of said channel being flared outwardly and the corresponding portion on the bead projection of the cover being similarly flared.

6. A container according to claim '5, wherein the said channel terminates directly beneath the point at which it begins to thereby form a single-turn helix.

7. A container according to claim 5, wherein the side- Walls of said channel and the bead projection on the cover are so proportioned to provide for a press-fit of the said bead into said channel.

8. A container for liquids, comprising a generally cylindrical body having a bottom closure at one end and provided in the inside of the other end with an upwardly facing open-ended helical channel adapted to receive in sealing relationship therewith an annular mating bead projection on the container cover, the said channel being generally U-shaped and formed by an outer sidewall in close proximity with the inner circumferential surface of the container body and an inner sidewall spaced therefrom, the depth of said outer sidewall increasing as the helix proceeds about the circumferential inner face of the container body, the said inner sidewall being of substantially the same depth throughout.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the said channel terminates directly beneath the point at which it begins to thereby form a single-turn helix.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 663,866 Justice et al. Dec. 18, 1900 1,847,245 Hothersall Mar. 1, 1932 2,241,793 Steven May 13, 1941 

1. A CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY HAVING A BOTTOM CLOSURE AT ONE END AND HAVING THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE OTHER END PROVIDED THROUGHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY ITS ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENTIAL EXTENT WITH AN UPWARDLY FACING AND HELICALLY EXTENDING OPEN-ENDED CHANNEL, SAID CHANNEL BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE IN SEALING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH A MATING BEAD PROJECTION ON THE CONTAINER COVER. 